Word Origin & History

forest c.1300, "extensive tree-covered district," especially one set aside for royal hunting and under the protection of the king, from O.Fr. forest, probably from L.L./M.L. forestem silvam "the outside woods," a term from the Capitularies of Charlemagne denoting "the royal forest;" perhaps via O.H.G. forst, from L. foris "outside," with a sense of "beyond the park," the park being the main or central fenced woodland. Another theory traces it through M.L. forestis, originally "forest preserve, game preserve," from L. forum in legal sense "court, judgment;" in other words "land subject to a ban." ...Replaced O.E. wudu.